Commonwealth Games 2026: Ajaya Babu Wins Silver After Thrilling Battle for Gold in Men's 79kg Weightlifting

India's Ajaya Babu produced one of the most thrilling performances of the Commonwealth Games 2026, fighting until the very last lift before settling for the silver medal in the men's 79kg weightlifting event.

The 22-year-old lifter from Kondavelagada, Andhra Pradesh, finished with a total of 330kg (149kg snatch and 181kg clean & jerk), missing out on gold by the narrowest of margins after Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad produced a stunning final lift of 184kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a Games-record total of 331kg. England's defending champion Chris Murray completed the podium with a total of 325kg, taking the bronze medal after a spirited performance.

While the result denied Ajaya the top step of the podium, it marked another significant milestone in a career that continues to rise rapidly on the international stage.

The Indian announced himself as the man to beat during the opening snatch competition. After executing his early lifts confidently, Ajaya called for an ambitious 149kg on his final attempt.

The weight represented a new Commonwealth Games record. Showing remarkable composure under pressure, the young Indian completed the lift cleanly, earning three white lights and sending the crowd into celebration. The successful effort placed him firmly at the top of the standings after the snatch phase, ahead of a field featuring experienced international competitors.

Even more remarkably, his biggest challenger for the gold medal, Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad, endured a disastrous start. Erry failed his opening two snatch attempts before finally registering a successful lift of 147kg on his final opportunity, surviving by the narrowest of margins to remain in the competition.

Ajaya entered the clean and jerk with a valuable advantage, but the contest was far from over.

The clean and jerk developed into one of the most dramatic weightlifting competitions of these Commonwealth Games. England's Chris Murray, the defending champion, was among the first to mount a challenge. After earlier successful lifts, Murray attempted 177kg, knowing it would temporarily move him into the lead. The Englishman completed the lift brilliantly, taking his overall total to 325kg and increasing the pressure on both Ajaya and Erry.

Moments earlier, Malaysia's Erry had also cleared 177kg, moving to 324kg overall and edging ahead of Ajaya, who was sitting on 323kg. With every successful attempt, the lead changed hands. The battle for gold had become a contest of nerves as much as strength.

Rather than being rattled by the changing leaderboard, Ajaya responded with the confidence expected of a champion. His second clean and jerk attempt came at 178kg.

The Indian executed the lift superbly. Three white lights confirmed another successful attempt, taking his total to 327kg and moving him back into first place. The pressure immediately shifted to his rivals. Erry answered by successfully lifting 181kg, reclaiming the lead with a total of 328kg. The competition had now become a straight duel between the Indian and the Malaysian.

With one attempt remaining each, every kilogram carried enormous significance.

Knowing exactly what was required, Ajaya approached the platform for his final attempt. The bar was loaded to 181kg. The Indian attacked the lift confidently, producing one of the cleanest lifts of the evening. Three white lights flashed immediately. The successful attempt raised his total to 330kg, putting him two kilograms ahead of Erry, who remained on 328kg with one final opportunity left.

Ajaya celebrated, fully aware that he had forced the Malaysian into an all-or-nothing final lift. The Indian had done everything within his control. Now, the gold medal depended on what happened next.

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The final lift of the competition belonged to Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad. To win the gold medal, he needed an enormous 184kg—a weight that would also establish a new Commonwealth Games record. The pressure could hardly have been greater. Having nearly been eliminated during the snatch after missing his opening two attempts, Erry now had the opportunity to complete one of the competition's greatest comebacks.

The Malaysian rose to the occasion. Executing the clean with remarkable power before completing the jerk under immense pressure, Erry secured the lift. Three white lights confirmed the result.

His total climbed to 331kg, just one kilogram ahead of Ajaya's 330kg, sealing the gold medal and rewriting the Commonwealth Games record books. It was a dramatic conclusion to one of the finest weightlifting contests of the Games.

Following in His Father's Footsteps

Although disappointed to miss gold by such a narrow margin, Ajaya's silver medal carries tremendous significance. The 22-year-old has now surpassed his father, who won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The achievement adds another proud chapter to the remarkable sporting legacy of Kondavelagada, a village renowned for producing weightlifters. Despite its modest size, the village has produced 20 national-level and 13 international-level weightlifters, making it one of India's most celebrated centres for the sport.

Ajaya is now the latest name to emerge from that rich tradition. Earlier this year, he had defeated Erry at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, lifting 335kg compared to the Malaysian's 333kg. This time, however, the Commonwealth Games final produced a different outcome.

While the gold medal slipped away by the smallest possible margin, Ajaya Babu's performance confirmed his status among the Commonwealth's elite weightlifters.

Breaking the Commonwealth Games snatch record, lifting a career-best total under championship pressure and pushing the eventual champion to his absolute limits demonstrated both his technical quality and mental resilience.

Perhaps even more impressive was the way he repeatedly responded whenever the lead changed hands. Every time one of his rivals moved ahead, Ajaya answered with a successful lift of his own, refusing to surrender the contest until the very last attempt.

The silver medal may not have been the colour he dreamed of, but it represents another major step in the young Indian's development. At just 22 years of age, Ajaya has already shown he possesses the ability to compete for gold on the biggest stages. If this thrilling contest is any indication, his rivalry with Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad could become one of the defining battles in Commonwealth weightlifting over the coming years.